Flyers News

#AskChief

"I do at times think about that. I think the line is missing the physical element a little bit if we put Read up there and not have Hartnell or somebody else. I think that line with Giroux and Voracek, the way they skate and handle the puck, you need a guy in there to bang bodies and get to the net. I don’t see enough of a net presence and physical aspect on that line."

@NHLFlyers In what area do you think the team needs to improve most heading in to next season? #AskChief

"Well I still think we need to improve defensively. We have to cut down on the goals against. Whether it’s staying out of the penalty box, not giving up as many power-play goals or just different areas to become a better defensive team.

The other area we need to improve is that we need to have the puck more than we do. I think that we made good strides in keeping the puck and being a puck-possession team, but we can get better."

"It’s just on my own. If I want to call somebody at any given time I will, and I will contact the players and see how their summer is going with their training. I do stay up on their training in the summer and stuff like that."

@NHLFlyers you mentioned analytics will be key to the team moving forward, can you elaborate at all? #askchief

"There are a lot of stats out there that are very helpful and we have people working for us that break these games down and give us some real good information on puck-possession and how much time we’re spending in our own end, how much time we’re spending in the neutral zone and things like that. It really helps us improve and get better."

"Well, I think both but as a coach you really have to be a hands-on coach. I think that you have to make sure you know what’s going on in your room and how it’s being run by the players and if they’re doing the right thing. I’m a hands-on coach, I’m a coach that talks to the players, but I do let them handle things on their own, but it has to be done the right way."

@NHLFlyers Outside of rule changes, what are the biggest differences in the game today from when you played? #askchief

"Speed and power. It’s a real fast game today. There’s nobody out there that really can’t move and skate. The puck is so important nowadays. When I played, it seemed like it wasn’t that important, but today you have to have the puck and you have to be fast."

@NHLFlyers What did you learn or what surprised you in your first season as an NHL head coach? #AskChief

"I don’t know if I was surprised by anything. The one thing I did learn going forward is stick to what you believe in and keep pushing in that area. Don’t change, don’t go back-and-forth. You do have to make adjustments with your team and you do have to listen to your team, but I think your philosophy, what you believe in, you just have to keep pushing forward and keep going and it’ll turn around for you if you stick to it and you’re positive."

@NHLFlyers#AskChief With the draft coming up how much focus is being put on talented D-Men for next season?

"I not really involved in the Draft as a whole. We have scouts for that, but where we pick, we’re going to take the best player available, so I’m not sure if it’s a D-man or forward, but I think we have to take the best player available and that’s what our philosophy is."

@NHLFlyers will Hagg or Morin have a chance to make the team as a top-6 defenseman?

"Everybody’s got a chance, that’s the way you look at it. I don’t think you can come into camp and say, 'Well, this guy’s not gonna play.' Everybody comes into camp and it’s equal. They’re on the same playing ground and they’re going to get an opportunity to get looked at. They’re good players whether they’re ready or not it’s up in the air still."

#AskChief is there any possibility of seeing G playing the wing with Coots, Laughton, or Schenner centering the top line. Maybe in camp?

"I would say Montreal was my favorite team as a young kid because where I grew up we only had a couple channels and Hockey Night in Canada was the only time I could really watch hockey and Montreal was always on there. Guy Lafleur was one of my favorite players, but it changed when I got a little bit older. I started watching the Flyers and Bobby Clarke is probably my favorite player."

"I think that we’re going to be better. Our start last year wasn’t very good and we played catch up all year. This we’re going to come into camp. We’re going to be better off with the way we’re going to run camp. We’re going to be ready to go and have a good start to the season and it’s going to make things a lot better.

I think our team has improved a lot last year, but it’s got to get better and that’s our job as coaches to make these guys better."